Harry Styles gains permanent injunction against four photographers

One Direction’s Harry Styles has secured a permanent injunction to stop four paparazzos from following him.

As previously reported, Styles went to the High Court in December to get a court order prohibiting photographers from following him around or waiting for him outside his home. The singer’s lawyer stressed at the time that this was an injunction to stop the activities of “a certain type of photographer”, and that he was “not trying to prevent fans approaching him in the street and taking photos”.

Yesterday, Styles was awarded a permanent injunction against four specific photographers, who were not named in court, under the Protection From Harassment Act 1997. The four people were identified using vehicle records from the DVLA. They are now prohibited from following Styles by car or motorcycle, loitering within 50 metres of his home, or placing him under any sort of surveillance.

Prior to going to court in December, the court was told that Styles had attempted to get the photographers to agree to stop following him voluntarily, but had been unsuccessful. All four had apparently eventually agreed to do so before yesterday’s hearing, though Styles still decided to seek the permanent injunction against them.

Following Styles’ success in gaining this court order, it will be interesting to see if it sets a precedent that other celebrities will now follow. Cheryl Cole and the mother of two of Hugh Grant’s children Tinglan Hong have previously gained similar temporary orders.

Styles’ legal team were yesterday given a further four weeks to identify a fifth photographer, whom they are seeking to add to the injunction. Another hearing is scheduled for the beginning of April.